Spotting Enemies Is Crucial To Your Survival

How To Spot Enemies

Knowing your enemy's location at all times is key to lasting long in Fortnite. Being aware of your surroundings and using the visual and auditory cues the game provides will help you identify if another player is close by.

Visual Cues Help You Watch Out For Danger

Visual cues help you identify if another player has been to the location that you're going to. While exploring, keep an eye out for these things:

Doors Stay Closed Until Opened

Interacting with a door opens it. It stays open until another player closes it. Be careful when entering buildings with open doors, another player might still be there!

Empty Or Open Lootboxes Means It Was Already Searched

Open lootboxes means that another player has been to this location before you. Try checking whether there are still items left lying around. Loot with caution!

Broken Objects Are Resources Gathered

A missing wall is just as good as an open door. Stay frosty.

Vanishing Objects Means That Another Player Is Near

While exploring, you may see a tree vanish into thin air. This is not a glitch, this is another player in your vicinity. Get down!

Built Structures May Still Have Players In Them

Built structures such as a wall with stairs means that an enemy has been there. Try avoiding these, especially fully-built forts since those who built them may still be there. If you decide to go near it, better be ready to meet its maker.

Loot On The Ground Means A Fight Happened There

A lot of items on the ground with no open treasure chest in sight means that another player died on that spot. Check what's left and loot with caution, the killer could be eyeing you next!

Auditory Cues Help You Hear For Trouble

Other than using your eyes, your ears are also an important aspect of spotting your enemy. When exploring keep your ears peeled for these auditory cues:

Footsteps Mean That An Enemy Is Very Near

Running makes a lot of noise. If you start hearing other footsteps, hide and stay still! You don't want to let the enemy know that they're not alone!

You Can Hear An Enemy Use Their Pickaxe

Harvesting materials using a pickaxe makes noise as well. Be careful when you hear another player doing this because they might have enough resources to get the height advantage on you.

Weapon Switching Causes It To Make Noise

Switching weapons makes noise as well. There are subtle differences when switching to a different weapon type so familiarize yourself with these in order to predict the weapon the enemy has and act accordingly.

Everyone Can Hear An Emote With Sound

Ever dance over an enemy's loot? Yes? Well, we can hear you. Chances are, other people heard your gunshots, and may be coming for you. Do not get caught aiming your finger guns at them while they aim real guns at you!

How To Prevent Being Spotted

Now that we've discussed the different ways to identify where enemies are in the game, let's go over some ways for you to stay hidden from the enemy.

When Exploring

As the game goes on, the map area will shrink. If you need to travel around the map, here are some things to remember when exploring.

Close Doors Behind You

Make closing doors behind you a habit as you play the game. A closed door will also alert you if another player has entered your building since it makes a sound when it opens.

Don't Destroy Objects

Harvesting materials is an important part of the game. When you are out and about, try to gather these materials as much as you can, but do not destroy the source of your materials!

Tip

You don't need to fully destroy objects. Suddenly vanishing trees or cars on a player's screen automatically puts them on high alert!

Crouching Makes You Move More Quietly

Moving while crouched makes you slower, but it also makes less noise. If you find yourself in the same area as another player, and want to get by unnoticed, stay low!

Keep Moving

Staying in the same place for a long time can have some benefits such as enemies not noticing you. However, if you don't move much, it will be easy for a sniper to pick you off from afar!

Only Build When Necessary

It might be easier to get to a hard to reach place by building, but the structure will alert an enemy of your presence if they see the it in the process of being built. Before creating your structure, ask yourself, "Is it worth it?"

Stay Away From Open Areas

An open area is a sniper's best friend. They will shoot anything that moves. Try looking for a different route when you find yourself in areas similar to the picture above.

Switch And Reload Guns When You're Alone

Switching weapons when you're sure that you're alone won't give an enemy the chance to know what you've got equipped when they engage you.

When Fighting

Only Fight When Necessary

Avoid fights as much as possible. It will almost always guarantee you surviving into the later stages of the game, but when you are cornered and have no choice, fight, and get out of the area as fast as possible.